Heavy  Loading  of  Freight  Cars  in  the 
Transportation  of  Northwestern  Apples 

H.  J.  RAMSEY 

Pomologist,  Preservation  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables 
in  Transit  and  Storage 


UNITED  STATES  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

BUREAU  OF  MARKETS 

CHARLES  J.  BRAND,  Chief 


Markets  Doc.  13 


Washington,  D.  C. 


Issued  July  15,  1918 


SUMMARY 

OWING  to  a  serious  car  shortage,  amounting  to  over  5,000 
refrigerator  cars  prior  to  December  15,  it  was  neces- 
sary during  1917  to  load  much  heavier  than  during  any 
previous  season  and  to  ship  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
Northwestern  apple  crop  in  box  cars. 

Temperatures  are  maintained  about  5°  lower  in  carloads 
of  apples  under  refrigeration  having  five  layers  of  boxes 
than  in  cars  having  six  layers.  The  higher  temperature 
shortens  the  storage  and  market  life  of  the  fruit. 

The  temperatures  of  heavy  and  light  loads  are  nearly  the 
same  when  shipped  under  ventilation.  When  emergency 
demands  heavy  loading  it  should  be  done  during  the  season 
of  ventilated  shipments. 

Closing  refrigerator  car  ventilators  during  the  day,  or 
when  outside  temperatures  are  high,  gives  lower  and  more 
uniform  temperatures  than  standard  ventilation. 

More  than  a  third  of  the  box  car  shipments  in  1917  were 
consigned  to  markets  in  Eastern  States.  Box  cars  should 
not  be  loaded  with  fruit  subject  to  long-distance  shipment. 

Careless  loading  of  Western  apples  during  the  season  of 
1917  caused  an  average  breakage  of  50  boxes  per  car  in 
shipments  to  New  York  City.  More  secure  car  stripping 
and  better  bracing  are  required. 

The  severity  of  1917  shipping  troubles  was  intensified  by 
disregarding  indicated  conditions.  Car  supply  information 
and  tonnage  estimates  should  be  coordinated  by  the  shippers 
in  advance  of  the  shipping  season  for  the  best  regulation  of 
loading  and  shipping. 


Heavy  Loading  of  Freight  Cars  in  the  Transportation 
of  Northwestern  Apples 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Conditions  in  1917 - 3 

Temperatures  in  heavy  loads 5 

Handling  heavy  loads  under  ventilation 7 

Fluctuating  temperatures  in  box  cars 7 

Condition  upon  market  arrival 9 


Page 

Excessive  breakage  caused  by  poor  loading 
methods 9 

Relation  of  heavy  loading  to  distribution 13 

Methods  of  shipping  during  1917  season 13 

Recommendations ..   19 


CONDITIONS  IN  1917 

GREAT  INCREASES  in  the  production  of  apples  in  the  North- 
western States  coupled  with  critical  car  shortages  seriously 
handicapped  the  efforts  of  the  shippers  and  carriers  to  transport  and 
market  the  Northwestern  apple  crop  efficiently  during  the  season  of 
1917-18.  From  a  production  of  14,775  carloads  of  apples  in  1912 
in  the  States  of  Washington,  Oregon,  Idaho,  and  Montana,  shipments 
increased  to  more  than  22,800  carloads  for  the  season  1917-18. 
Various  far-reaching  causes  resulted  in  an  unprecendented  national 
car  shortage.  This  affected  the  available  supply  of  refrigerator  cars 
to  the  extent  that  during  the  week  of  November  9-15,  1917,  carriers 
were  able  to  supply  but  423  refrigerator  cars  at  shipping  points  where 
the  minimum  requirements  for  that  week  were  1,064  refrigerator  cars, 
each  loaded  with  756  boxes.  While  this  week  marked  the  most  acute 
stage  of  the  car  shortage  for  the  season,  its  severity  existed  from 
October  12  to  the  end  of  the  calendar  year,  resulting  in  the  loading 
of  2,290  box  cars  in  the  principal  shipping  districts  during  this  period. 
The  average  load  in  these  box  cars  was  891.4  boxes.  Further  than  this, 
the  heavier  loading  of  refrigerator  cars,  brought  about  by  urgent 
appeals  from  many  sources,  resulted  in  raising  their  normal  load  of 
630  boxes  to  an  average  of  763.1  during  the  period  of  heaviest  move- 
ment (October  5  to  December  15).  On  a  basis  of  665  boxes  as  a 
satisfactory  carload,  this  shows  that  there  was  an  actual  shortage  of 
4,162  refrigerator  cars  up  to  December  15  in  handling  about  half 
of  the  crop. 

These  conditions,  anticipated  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
demanded  that  information  be  secured  during  the  shipping  season 
that  would  show  how  heavily  refrigerator  cars  may  be  loaded  for 
the  safe  shipment  of  apples,  the  best  methods  for  handling  such  loads, 
and  to  what  extent  box  cars  may  be  safely  used  for  this  movement. 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


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Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


HANDLING  HEAVY  LOADS  UNDER  VENTILATION 

Under  standard  ventilation  the  car  ventilators  are  left  open  both 
day  and  night,  unless  the  outside  temperatures  become  dangerously 
low,  regardless  of  how  warm  it  becomes  during  the  day.  Under 
controlled  ventilation,  the  ventilators  are  closed  when  the  outside 
temperatures  become  higher  than  those  of  the  fruit.  When  shipped 
under  ventilation  there  is  no  great  difference  in  temperature  between 
cars  heavily  loaded  and  those  with  normal  loads.  This  is  illustrated 
in  figure  2.  Under  ventilation  the  range  in  temperature  between  the 
top  and  bottom  layers  is  less  than  under  refrigeration,  but  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  load  as  a  whole  is  not  likely  to  be  as  low  as  when  it  is 
shipped  under  refrigeration  unless  the  ventilated  shipment  passes 
through  outside  temperatures  ranging  below  40°.  This  is  illustrated 
in  figure  3,  wherein  comparision  is  made  between  the  average  fruit 
temperatures  in  heavy  loads  under  standard  refrigeration,  standard 
ventilation  and  controlled  ventilation.  Great  advantage  is  found  in 
controlled  ventilation  over  standard  ventilation,  since  lower  and  more 
uniform  temperatures  are  maintained  where  cars  have  ventilators 
closed  when  the  outside  temperatures  are  high. 

FLUCTUATING  TEMPERATURES  IN  BOX  CARS 

Temperature  records  of  fruit  shipped  in  box  cars  offered  very  con- 
clusive evidence  of  the  unsuitability  of  this  type  of  equipment  for 
apple  shipments  from  the  Northwest.  Figure  4  shows  the  striking 
fluctuation  in  fruit  temperatures  under  the  influence  of  the  changes 
in  the  outside  air  temperature.  This  chart  also  shows  how  little  one 
or  two  ply  of  building  paper  protects  the  fruit  from  outside  tempera- 
ture changes.  The  box  car  has  no  provision  for  ventilation  and  offers 
neither  protection  from  heat  during  the  warm  fall  weather  nor  from 
freezing  during  a  cold  period,  and  is  not  suitable  for  long-distance 
shipments  of  apples. 

Various  methods  of  temporary  insulation  and  heating  were  provided 
for  box  cars  by  shippers  during  the  latter  part  of  the  shipping  season. 
Figure  6  shows  three  methods  of  providing  temporary  insulation. 
Car  B  with  an  inner  wall  space  6  inches  from  the  car  wall  filled  with 
shavings  gave  the  best  results.  The  inner  wall  held  the  shavings  in 
place,  whereas  in  the  car  where  the  shavings  were  separated  from 
the  fruit  load  by  building  paper  only  the  shavings  settled  somewhat 
and  part  of  the  top  became  uncovered.  The  eel-grass  quilt  offered  a 
protection  approximating  that  of  the  shavings  for  short  periods  of 
cold  weather  owing  to  the  very  efficient  manner  in  which  it  was 
applied.  These  cars  were  subjected  to  a  temperature  of  13°  below 
zero  for  a  few  hours  with  but  slight  frost  damage  on  the  floor. 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples  9 

Various  other  temporary  insulation  materials  and  methods  have 
been  used,  such  as  straw  in  place  of  shavings,  building  paper,  and  a 
combination  of  paper  sheathing  and  air  spaces.  All  temporary  insula- 
tion of  box  cars  is  expensive  and  provides  uncertain  protection. 

In  heating  box  cars  the  best  results  are  obtained  by  placing  the 
stove  in  the  center  of  the  car  and  providing  an  air  passage  about  the 
fruit  inside  the  temporary  insulation.  It  is  especially  important  that 
provision  be  made  at  the  floor  and  at  the  ends  of  the  load  for  the 
circulation  of  the  heated  air. 

CONDITION  UPON  MARKET  ARRIVAL 

Inspections  were  made  during  the  shipping  season  in  Minneapolis, 
Chicago,  and  New  York,  to  determine  the  effect  of  heavy  loading 
upon  the  fruit  and  upon  the  condition  of  the  packages  when  unloaded. 
The  Minneapolis  and  Chicago  inspections  indicated  no  apparent 
injury  to  the  fruit  when  loaded  six  boxes  high,  but  serious  shifting 
and  breakage  was  reported.  Of  27  box  cars  inspected,  six  were 
frozen,  and  one  was  overripe.  Cars  loaded  through  the  center  with- 
out bracing  were  subject  to  freezing  about  the  doors.  Out  of  86 
cars  inspected,  17  loads  had  shifted,  10  of  them  because  of  poor  and 
insufficient  car  stripping.  Loading  on  2"  x  4"  or  2"  x  2"  strips 
resulted  in  damage,  as  the  boxes  tilted  or  slipped  off  of  the  strips. 

The  New  York  inspections  constitute  a  more  comprehensive  test 
on  account  of  the  accumulated  effect  of  the  longer  period  in  transit. 
The  average  time  in  transit  for  the  58  cars  from  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington was  24.3  days;  six  cars  from  California,  20.8  days;  nine  cars 
from  Idaho,  19  days;  seven  cars  from  Oregon,  20.3  days.  Out  of 
66  refrigerator  cars  inspected,  nine  arrived  with  contents  overripe, 
seven  of  these  cars  were  loaded  six  boxes  high,  with  Jonathan,  Winter 
Banana,  and  Spitzenberg  varieties  shipped  under  ventilation  late  in 
the  season.  Since  the  temperatures  in  transit  (fig.  2)  are  very  nearly 
the  same  in  heavy  and  light  loads  shipped  under  ventilation,  the  over- 
ripeness  found  cannot  be  attributed  to  overloading.  Nine  out  of  the 
14  box  cars  inspected  contained  fruit  overripe:  one  had  been  frozen. 

EXCESSIVE  BREAKAGE  CAUSED  BY  POOR  LOADING  METHODS 

The  additional  journey  from  Chicago  to  New  York  resulted  in  an 
increased  breakage  which  presents  striking  evidence  in  support  of  the 
Chicago-Minneapolis  report  and  emphasizes  the  fact  that  better 
methods  must  be  used  in  carloading,  especially  with  heavy  loads  and 
box  cars.  In  the  80  cars  inspected,  an  average  of  50  broken  boxes 
per  car  was  found.  This  breakage  was  much  greater  in  the  heavy 
j  loads  than  in  the  light  loads,  and  was  greater  in  the  box  cars  than 
in  the  refrigerator  cars.  (See  fig.  5.) 


10 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


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Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples  1 1 

Careless  carloading  of  apples  is  responsible  for  the  annual  breakage 
of  thousands  of  boxes.  Often  but  a  car  strip  on  one  end  of  a  box  is 
used  on  the  third  and  top  layers  and  these  are  lightly  nailed.  While 
broken  boxes  are  coopered  at  destination  and  sold,  the  cost  of  cooper- 
ing, the  low  prices  received,  and  the  resulting  decay  of  the  apples 
from  bruises  aggregate  a  tremendous  annual  loss. 

Fifty-six  of  the  eighty  loads  inspected  in  New  York  had  shifted, 
51  because  of  poor  or  insufficient  stripping,  the  others  because  of  poor 
bracing.  Shifting  as  a  result  of  poor  stripping  is  to  one  side  of  the 
car,  causing  a  gap  into  which  the  loosened  boxes  tumble,  effecting  a 
jumbled  load  and  broken  boxes.  Car  strips  running  full  length  across 
the  car  do  not  possess  great  advantage  over  lath  used  as  strips,  if 
the  latter  are  used  in  sufficient  quantity  and  are  well  nailed  in  proper 
position. 

BROKEN  BOXES 

NEW  YORK  CITY       INSPECTIONS 


NUMBER  BROKEN  PER  CAR 


IN 

BOX 

CARS  59 1 

IN 

REFRIGERATOR 
CARS  48 1 


IN 

HEAVY  _., 

LOADS  54| 

IN 

LIGHT 
LOADS 

Fio.  5. — Average  number  of  broken  boxes  found  in  eighty  carloads 
of  apples  from  the  Pacific  Coast  upon  arrival  in  New  York  City. 

The  continual  weaving  movement  of  the  car  in  motion  has  a 
twisting  effect  upon  the  boxes  beneath  the  strips.  Several  days  of 
this  action,  combined  with  vertical  vibration,  or  "jumping,"  together 
with  sudden  end-thrusts,  when  stopping  or  shunting,  work  the  nails 
out  of  the  top  strips.  With  the  top  layer  released,  the  lower  strips 
also  work  loose,  whereupon  the  whole  load  shifts  to  one  side  or  the 
other.  By  tight  squeezing  and  bracing,  and  by  secure  stripping,  this 
movement  of  the  boxes  may  be  decreased  so  that  the  heavier  nails 
recommended  in  the  top  stripping  will  stay  in  place  sufficiently  long 
to  allow  delivery  of  the  car  without  shifting  of  the  load. 


14 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


TABLE  1. — Recapitulation  of  northwestern  carlol  shipments  of  apples. 

[August  15  to  December  15,  1917.] 


WEEK. 

EAST. 

WEST. 

TOTAL. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Aug.  15-30: 

1 
700 
700 

5 
3,468 
693.6 

7 
4,593 

21 
13,443 

22 
14,143 

640 

10 
6,505 
650.5 

13 
8,666 

642.8 

15 
9,973 
664.8 

20 
13,259 

Sept.  1-6: 

1 
630 
630 

1 
630 
630 

Sent.  7-13: 

Number  of  boxes 

656.1 

16 
10,670 
666.9 

44 
29,626 
673.3 

183 
130,116 

666.6 

17 

11,187 

662.9 

33 

21,857 

Sept.  14-20: 

658 

61 
39,800 
652.4 

198 
133,627 

662.3 

105 
69,426 
661.2 

381 
263,743 

Sept.  21-27: 

1 
630 
630 

1 
630 
630 

Sept.  28-Oct.  4: 

711 

585 
404,662 
691.7 

682 

498,1138 
731.1 

553 

438,062 
792.1 

303 
243,043 
802.1 

295 
247,819 
840.1 

241 
200,383 
831.4 

264 
223,415 
846.2 

423 
335,983 
794.3 

386 
312,403 
809.3 

244 
192,556 
789.1 

4,232 
3,276,137 

774.1 

6748 

517 
347,293 

671.7 

639 
439,654 
688 

521 

37,461.4 
719.0 

239 
183,583 
768 

179 
141,049 

787.9 

182 
143.493 
788.4 

198 
160,355 
809.8 

331 

267,660 
808.6 

294 
238,477 
811.1 

238 
188,001 
789.9 

3,658 
2,697,407 
737.2 

692.2 

1,102 
751,955 
682.3 

1,321 
938,292 
710.2 

1,074 
812,676 
756.6 

542 

426,626 
787.1 

474 
388,868 
820.3 

423 
343,876 
812.9 

462 
383,770 
830.6 

754 
603,643 
800.5 

680 

550,880 
810.1 

482 
380,557 
789.5 

7,890 
5,973,544 
757.1 

Oct.  5-11: 

1 
752 
752 

97 
79.7JO 
821.6 

136 
120,072 
882.8 

93 
88,903 
955.9 

133 
131.054 
985.6 

190 
171,346 
901.8 

147 
138,139 
939.7 

42 
40,426 
962.5 

1 
686 
686 

3 
2,293 
764.3 

845 
774,631 
916.7 

2 
1.321 

660.5 

72 
59,241 

822.7 

118 
102.840 
871.5 

222 
195,010 
878.4 

308 
279,344 
906.9 

335 
289,128 
863.0 

259 
222,359 
858.5 

101 
91,128 
902.2 

22 
20,404 
927.4 

6 
5,934 
989 

1.445 
1,260.543 
872.3 

3 
2,073 
691 

163 
138,941 
822.1 

254 
222,912 
877.6 

315 
283,913 
901.3 

441 
410.398 
930.6 

525 

460,474 
877 

406 
360,498 
887.9 

143 
131,554 
919.9 

23 
21,090 
917 

9 
8,227 
914.1 

2.290 
2,041,340 
891.4 

Number  of  boxes 

Oct.  12-18: 
Nymher  of  rars 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load          _  .   

Oct.  19-25: 
Nnmlw»r  of  rj»rs 

Average  load  .    -    .- 

Oct.  26-Nov.  1  : 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load  -- 

Nov.  2-8: 
N  umber  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load 

Nov.  9-15: 
N(imh«r  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load 

Nov.  16-22: 
Number  of  cars 

Average  load  

Nov.  23-29: 
Number  of  cars  .    

.  Average  load      _      -  .   .  _ 

Nov.  30-Dec.  7: 
Number  of  cars  

Average  load   . 

Dec.  8-15: 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load  ..    

Total  for  season: 
Total  number  of  cars  — 
Total  number  of  boxes  .  _ 

Grand  total: 

Total  number  of  cars.  August  15  to  December  15 10,180 

Total  number  of  boxes,  August  15  to  December  15 8,014,884 

Average  load  in  all  cars,  August  15  to  December  15 787.3 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


15 


TABLE  2. — Wenatchee  District,  Washington:     Summary  of  carlot  shipments  of  apples  from 
Wenatchee  and  Northern  Columbia  shipping  points. 

[August  15  to  December  15,  1917.] 


WEEK. 

EAST.                                                   WEST. 

TOTAL. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Ven- 
tilated. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Ven- 
tilated. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator and 
ventilated. 

Box. 

Aug.  15-30: 
Number  of  cars-. 
Number  of  boxes 

1 
700 
700 

3,468 
693.6 

6 

3,928 
654.6 

'  11 

7,149 
649.9 

31 
21,019 
678 

91 
67,804 
745.1 

181 
128,503 
709.9 

217 
165,087 
760.7 

156 
120,633 
773.3 

58 
47,053 
.    811.2 

154 
132,734 
862.9 

92 
81,104 
881.5 

128 
112,690 
8S0.4 

243 
199T579 
82^3 

230 

188,208 
818.3 

89 
70,072 
787.3 

1,693 

1,349,731 
797.2 

13 
8,413 
647 

4 
2,690 

1 

522 
522 

15 
9,635 
642.3 

9 
6,158 

Sept.  1-7: 

Number  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Sept.  7-13: 
Number  of  cars._ 
Number  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Sept.  14-20: 
Number  of  cars  - 
Number  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Sept.  21-27: 
Number  of  cars.  _ 
Number  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Sept.  28-Oct.  4: 
Number  of  cars.- 
Number  of  boxes 

672.5 

9 
6,097 
677.6 

6 
3,770 
628.3 

18 
11,223 
623.5 

25 
16,608 
664.3 

50 
34,036 
680.7 

63 
46,717 
741.5 

37 
28,956 
782.5 

15 

12,282 
818.8 

53 
44,066 
831.6 

41 
34,438 
839.9 

50 
43,005 
860.1 

106 
87,119 
821.8 

76 
61,796 
813.1 

88 

55,144 
810.9 

634 

496,360 
-782.9 

684.2 

17 
11,334 

2 
1,309 
654.5 

3 
2,180 
726.6 

13 
8,970 
690 

77 
52,928 
687.3 

96 
69,492 
723.8 

83 
62,156 

748.8 

62 
49,442 
797.4 

45 
35,769 
794.8 

16 
13,458 
841.1 

666.7 

22 
14,481 

2 
1,382 
691 

7 
4,606 
658 

39 
27,004 
699.3 

146 
106,041 
726.3 

171 
130,981 
765.8 

154 
119,455 
775.6 

112 
92,183 
823 

49 
41,489 
846.5 

1 
866 
866 

658.2 

69 
45,818 

664 

232 
164,344 

708.5 

473 
338,072 
714.7 

534 

404,941 
758.3 

409 
318,486 
766.4 

230 

187,287 
814.3 

272 
231,747 
852 

134 
116,408 
868.7 

178 
155,695 
874.7 

349 

286,698 
821.4 

306 

250,004 
817 

157 
125,216 
797.5 

3,406 

2,666,324 
782.8 

Oct  5-11: 
Number  of  cars.  . 
Number  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Oct.  12-18: 
Number  of  cars.- 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Oct.  19-25: 
Number  of  cars.- 
Number  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Oct.  26-Nov.  1: 
Number  of  cars_- 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Nov.  2-8: 
Number  of  cars.. 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Nov.  9-15: 
Number  of  cars-- 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Nov.  16-22: 
Number  of  cars.- 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Nov.  23-29: 
Number  of  cars.- 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Nov.  30-Dec.  7: 
Number  of  cars-- 
N  umber  of  boxes 
Average  load  
Dec.  8-15: 

1 
752 
752 

95 

78,388 
825.1 

134 
118.350 
883.2 

74 
71,470 
965.8 

100 

102,276 
1,022.7 

101 
93,725 
928 

117 
109,992 
940.1 

31 
30,228 
975 

1 

686 
686 

3 
2,293 
764.3 

657 

608,160 
925.6 

2 
1,321 
660.5 

69 
'56,811 
823.3 

107 
92,973 
868.9 

95 

88,307 
928.4 

105 

99,229 
945 

113 
103,463 
915.6 

82 
73,044 
890.8 

32 
27,600 
862.5 

8 
6,387 
798.4 

3 

2,073 
691 

164 
135,199 
824.4 

241 
211,323 
876.8 

169 
159,777 
945.4 

205 

201,505 
982.9 

214 
197,188 
921.4 

199 

t83,036 
919.8 

63 
57,828 
917.9 

9 
7,073 
785.9 

3 
2,293 
764.3 

1,270 

1,157,295 
911.3 

Number  of  boxes 

Total  for  season: 
Total  number  of 

681 

524,007 
769.4 

398 

296,226 
744.2 

613 

549,135 
895.8 

Total  number  of 

Average  load  

Grand  total: 

Total  number  of  cars,  August  15  tg  December  15 4,676 

Total  number  of  boxes,  August  15  to  December  15 3,823,819 

Average  load  in  all  cars,  August  15  to  December  15 817.7 


16 


Heavy  Loading  of  Nor  I  h  western  Apples 


TABLE  3. —  Yakima  District,  Washington:     Summary  of  carlot  shipments  of  apples 
from  Yakima  Valley  shipping  points. 

[August  15  to  December  15,  1917.] 


WEEK. 

EAST. 

WEST. 

TOTAL. 

Refriger- 
ator 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Aug.  15-30: 
Number  of  cars  

7 
4,508 

7 
4,508 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load-   

644 

6 
3,815 
635.8 

2 
1,260 

644 

6 
3,815 
635.8 

3 
1,925 

Sept.  1-6: 
N  umber  of  cars.  .    

1 
630 
630 

1 
630 
630 

Number  of  boxes  . 

Average  load  

Sept.  7-13: 
Number  of  cars  

1 
665 
665 

3 
2,139 

Number  of  boxes  .. 

Average  load  _. 

630 

8 
5,237 

641.6 

11 

7  376 

Sept.  14-20: 
Number  of  cars   .». 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load  

713 

6 
4,001 
666.8 

35 
23,519 

654.6 

30 
19,607 
653.5 

96 
64,091 

670.5 

36 
23,608 
655.7 

131 
87  610 

S.-pt.  21-27: 
Number  of  cars 

1 
630 
630 

1 
630 
630 

N  umber  of  boxes  - 

Average  load  . 

Sept.  28-Oct.  4: 
Number  of  cars  

Number  of  boxes  . 

Average  load  

672 

211 
136,645 
647.6 

238 
157,681 
662.5 

179 
147,025 
821.3 

84 
63,310 
753.7 

38 
28,766 
757 

75 
58,920 
785.6 

54 
43,583 
807 

110 
78,846 
716.7 

105 
83,140 
791.8 

45 
35,493 

788.7 

1,184 
863,733 
729.5 

667.6 

334 
218,653 
654.6 

419 
278,286 
664.1 

355 
246,579 
736 

141 
104,269 
739.4 

80 
60,107 
751.3 

90 
69,761 
775.1 

95 
76,244    • 
802.5 

171 
136,887 
800.5 

178 
145,482 
817.3 

113 
86,556 
765.9 

2,125 
,521,342 
715.9 

668.7 

545 
355,298 
651.9 

657 
435,967 
663.5 

534 
393,604 
737 

225 

167,579 
744.7 

118 
88.873 
753.1 

165 
128,681 
779.8 

149 
119,827 
804.2 

281 
215,733 
767.7 

283 

228,622 
807.8 

158 
122,049 
772.4 

3,309 
2,385,075 
720.7 

Oct.  5-11: 
Number  of  cars   

Number  of  boxes  
Average  load-.. 





Oct.  12-18: 
Number  of  cars 

2 
1,312 
656 

2 
1.722 
861 

7 
5,677 
811 

16 
13,898 
868.6 

43 

34,925 
812.2 

27 
25,635 
949.4 

9 

8,382 
931.3 

1 

756 
756 

7 
6,049 
864.1 

111 
92,336 
831.8 

150 
132,517 
883.4 

154 
124,101 
805.8 

142 
119,209 
839.5 

52 
47,670 
916.7 

8 
7,882 
986 

6 
5,934 
989 

631 
536,454 
850.1 

3 
2,068 
689.3 

9 
7,771 
863.4 

118 
98,013 
830.6 

166 
146,415 

882 

197 
159,026 
807.7 

169 
144,844 

857 

61 
56,052 
918.8 

8 
7,882 
985.2 

6 
5,934 
989 

739 
629,265 
851.5 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load 

Oct.  19-25: 
Number  of  cars  

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load  

Oct.  26-Nov.  1: 
Number  of  cars  . 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load  

Nov.  2-8: 
Number  of  cars.    . 

Number  of  boxes  _ 

Average  load  

>Jov.  9-15: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Vverage  load  -  - 

-.  16-22: 
umber  of  cars 

imber  of  boxes  

wage  load  

"1-29: 
•'ir  of  cars 

r  of  boxes.  . 

load  

'  cars  

boxes  
1... 



s  

38  



••.ars  

38  

108 
92,811 
859.3 

er  of  cars,  August  15  to  Dacsmbar  15 

?r  of  baxes,  August  15  to  December  15.. 
J  in  all  cars,  August  15  to  December  15. 


4,042 
3,314,340 
745.7 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


17 


even  though  some  varieties  have  qualities  that  enable  them  to  stand 
abuse  longer  than  others.  It  follows  that  when  radically  diversified 
methods  are  employed  with  cars  moving  through  identical  climatic  con- 
ditions, some  of  the  fruit  is  subject  to  undesirable  shipping  conditions. 
Table  1  shows  that  heavy  loading  of  refrigerator  cars  was  not 
universally  begun  until  the  week  of  October  19  to  25,  and  that  the 
heaviest  loading  occurred  during  the  week  of  November  16  to  22, 
when  the  average  carload  was  830.6  boxes.  This  was  five  weeks 
after  the  heaviest  movement  under  ventilation  and  well  into  the 


TABLE  4. — Hood  River  District,  Oregon:    Summary  of  carlot  shipments  of  apples  from 
Hood  Hirer  shipping  points, 

[August  15  to  December  15,  1917.] 


WEEK. 

EAST. 

WEST. 

TOTAL. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Oct.  13-Oct.  4: 

18 
11,789 

18 
11,789 

654.9 

23 

17,260 

654.9 

29 
21,824 

Oct.  5-11: 

6 
4,564 

Number  of  hmcfis 

750.4 

50 
40,515 

760.6 

27 
19,373 

752.5 

77 
59,888 

Oct.  12-18: 

Number  of  boxes 

810.3 

50 

41,764 

717.5 

29 
21,697 

777.7 

79 
63,461 

Oct.  19-25: 

835.2 

30 
25,699 
856.6 

29 
24,704 
851.8 

28 
23,887 
853.1 

58 
47,747 
823.2 

44 
36,373 

748.1 

12 
10,092 
841 

5 
4,121 
824.2 

11 
8,902 
809.2 

17 
13,738 
808.1 

10 
8,430 
843 

11 
8,534 
775.8 

17 
13,481 

803 

42 
35,791 
852.1 

34 
28,825 
847.7 

39 
32,789 
840.7 

75 
61,485 
819.7 

54 

44.S03 
829.6 

28 
21,850 
780 

107 
84,451 

Oct.  26-Nov.  1: 

12 
11,756 
979.6 

12 
10,338 
861.5 

38 
35,467 
933.3 

2 
1,704 
852 

3 

2,922 
974 

28 
25,181 
899.3 

30 
24,527 
817.5 

28 
24,004 
857.2 

12 
10,802 
900 

3 
2,863 
954.3 

15 
14,678 
978.5 

40 
35,519 
887.9 

68 
59,994 
882.2 

30 
25,708 
856.9 

12 
10,802 
900.1 

3 

2,863 
954.3 

Number  of  boxes  _ 

Nov.  2-8: 
Number  of  cars      

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load  _   _ 

Nov.  9-15: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load  

Nov.  16-22: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  _. 

Nov.  23-29: 

826.6 

17 
13,316 

Nov.  30-Dec.  6: 

783.2 

90 

70,970 

Dec.  7-15: 

788.5 

437 
354,024 
810.1 

793 

145 
112,932 

778.8 

789.2 

582 
466,956 
802.3 

Total  for  season: 
Total  number  of  cars  — 
Total  number  of  boxes.  . 

64 
59,265 
926 

104 
90,29!) 
868.2 

168 
149.564 
890. 

Grand  total: 

Total  number  of  cars,  August  15  to  December  15  — 
Total  number  of  boxes,  August  15  to  December  15- 
Average  load  in  all  cars,  August  15  to  December  15- 


750 

016,520 
822 


18 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


season  when  heating  precautions  should  have  been  taken.  The  best 
treatment  of  the  apples  would  have  been  for  the  heaviest  loads  to 
move  under  ventilation. 

Box  cars  were  not  extensively  used  until  the  week  of  October  12  to 
18  and  their  greatest  use  was  during  the  week  of  November  9  to  15, 
when  525  were  shipped.  Out  of  10,180  carloads,  shipped  from  the 
Northwest,  2,290  loads  were  shipped  in  box  cars,  more  than  845  of 
which  had  destinations  in  Eastern  States. 

Comparing  the  weekly  shipments  from  different  districts,  a  wide 
variation  is  found  in  the  weight  of  the  loads  in  different  shfpping 
localities.  During  the  week  of  October  12  to  18,  the  average  refriger- 


TABLE  5. — Western  Oregon  District:     Summary  of  carlol  shipments  of  apples  from 
Medford,  Grants  Pass,  Gold  Will,  Voorhies,  Dallas,  and  Ashland. 

[August  15  to  December  15,  1917.] 


WEEK. 

EAST.                                   WEST. 

TOTAL. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Oct.  5-11: 

9 
6,582 

3 

2,181 

12 
8,763 
730.2 

12 
9,057 
754.7 

10 
6,962 
696.2 

18 
13,341 
741.1 

13 

10,198 
784.4 

35 
26,758 
764.5 

14 
10,990 

785 

35 
27,431 
783.7 

38 
29,646 
780.1 

31 
26,059 
840.6 

218 
169,205 
776.1 

731.3 

2 

1,470 

727 

10 

7,587 
758.7 

7 
4,946 
706.5 

7 
5,074 
725 

6 
4,871 
811.8 

18 
13,962 
757.6 

8 
6,085 
760.6 

16 
12.246 
765.3 

9 
6,333 
703.6 

15 
13,062 

Oct.  12-18: 

2 
.1,674 
837 

3 
2,393 
798 

2 
1,674 
837 

8 
6,168 
771 

5 
5,175 
1,035 

4 
3,182 
795.5 

2 
1,956 
978 

3 
3,272 
1,091 

2 
1,674 
837 

3 
2,393 
797.6 

2 
1,674 
837 

8 
6,168 
771 

5 
5,175 
1,035 

4 
3,182 
795.5 

3 

2,764 
921.3 

3 
3,272 
1,090.6 

-      735 

3 
2,016 

Oct.  19-25: 

Number  of  boxes 

672 

11 
8,267 

Oct.  26?Nov.  1: 

Number  of  boxes 

751.5 

7 
5,327 

Nov.  2-8: 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load  

761 

17 
12,796 

Nov.  9-15: 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load 

752.7 

6 
4,905 

Nov.  16-22: 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load 

817.5 

19 
15,185 
799.2 

29 
23,313 

Nov.  23-29: 
Number  of  cars 

1 

808 

Nov.  30-Deo.  6: 

Number  of  boxes 

803.8 

16 
12,997 

Dec.  7-15: 

812.3 

119 
92,858 
789.3 

. 

870.8 

99 
76,347 
771.1 

Total  for  season: 
Total  number  of  cars  
Total  number  of  boxes.  . 
Average  load 

1 
808 

•29 
25,494 
879.1 

30 
26,302 
876.7 

Grand  total: 

Total  number  of  cars,  August  15  to  December  15  — 
Total  number  of  boxes,  August  15  to  December  15-. 
Average  load  in  all  cars,  August  15  to  December  15. 


248 

195,507 
788.3 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


19 


ator  carloads  were  as  follows:  Hood  River,  777.7  boxes;  Wenatchee, 
758.3  boxes;  Western  Oregon,  754.7  boxes;  Eastern  Washington. 
693.6  boxes,  and  Yakima,  663.5  boxes.  Local  storage  facilities  and 
competitive  transportation  conditions  to  some  extent  regulate  heavy 
loading  activities  in  different  districts. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The  following  recommendations  are  based  upon  the  investigations 
that  have  been  made,  as  well  as  upon  the  results  of  methods  used  in 
commercial  practice  so  far  as  these  have  proved  efficient  and  of  such 
practical  value  as  to  warrant  their  wider  application. 


TABLE  6. — Eastern  District,  Washington,  Oregon,  and  Idaho:     Summary  of  carlot 

shipments  of  apples  from  Walla  Walla,  Lewiston,  Milton,  Freewater, 

Mosier,   Taggard,  and  Dufur. 

[August  15  to  December  15,  1917.] 


WEEK. 

EAST. 

WEST. 

TOTAL. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Refriger- 
ator. 

Box. 

Oct.  5-11: 
Number  of  cars 

15 
9,631 

28 
18,567 

43 
27,998 

Average  load 

642 

4 
2  904 

656 

37 
25,535 

651.1 

41 
28,439 

Oct.  12-18: 
Number  of  rars 

726 

11 
7,969 

690.1 

31 
22,994 
741.7 

19 
16,097 

847.2 

19 
14,326 
754 

22 
16,430 
746.8 

28 
21,283 
760.1 

28 
22,978 
820.6 

20 
16,332 
816.6 

25 
19,758 

693.6 

42 
30,963 
737.2 

27 
22,628 
838 

37 
29.125 
787.1 

50 
39,240 

784.8 

46 
35,773 

777.7 

35 

28,978 
827.9 

25 
20,758 
830.3 

29 
22,782 

Oct.  19-25: 

1 
1,425 
1,425 

11 
9,771 

888.2 

17 
16,249 
955.8 

33 
31,862 
965.5 

3 

2,920 
973.3 

3 
3.100 
1,033.3 

1 
1,425 
1,425 

11 

9,771 
888.2 

22 
20,791 
945 

41 
39,091 
953.4 

4 
3,728 
932 

4 

4,108 
1,027 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load.. 

724.4 

8 
6,531 

Oct.  26-Nov.  1: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes 

Average  load 

816.4 

18 
14,799 
821.0 

28 
22,810 
814.6 

18 
14,490 
805 

7 
6,000 
857.1 

5 
4,420 
885.2 

4 
3,024 

Nov.  2-8: 
Number  of  cars 

5 
4,5i2 
908.4 

8 
7,229 
903.6 

1 
808 
808 

1 

1.008 
1,008 

N  umber  of  boxes  - 

Average  load  - 

Nov.  9-15: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load 

Nov.  16-22: 
Numh«r  nf  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load 

Nov.  23-29: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  

Average  load. 

Nov.  30-Dec.  6: 
Number  of  cars 

Number  of  boxes  







Dec.  7-15: 

• 

756 

118 
92,584 
784.6 

790.3 

257 
194,100 
755.2 

785.6 

375 

286,684 
764.5 

Total  lor  season: 
Total  number  of  cars  
Total  number  of  boxes.  - 
Average  load.. 

15 

13,587 
905.8 

68 
65,327 
960.6 

83 
78,914 
950.7 

Grand  total: 

Total  number  of  cars,  August  15  to  December  15 —          458 

Total  number  of  boxes,  August  15  to  December  15 365,598 

Average  load  in  all  cars,  August   15  to  December  15 798.2 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples  21 

LOADING 

The  loading  of  refrigerator  cars  with  apples  nearer  the  ceiling  than 
18  inches  is  not  recommended  as  a  standard  practice. 

Early  long-distance  shipments  should  move  under  refrigeration  and 
ordinarily  should  not  be  loaded  more  than  five  boxes  high.  These 
shipments  should  include  the  September  and  early  October  movement 
of  such  varieties  as  Grimes,  Jonathan,  Winter  Banana,  Mclntosh, 
Delicious,  and  Spitzenberg. 

By  using  3  to  4  per  cent  salt  with  the  ice  at  the  time  of  loading, 
such  carloads  may  be  increased,  under  emergency  demands,  to  six 
layers,  but  in  no  case  should  salt  be  used  unless  properly  constructed 
floor  racks  are  provided  and  the  fruit  next  to  the  ice  bunker  is  pro- 
tected from  freezing  by  an  insulated  bulkhead  or  temporary  insulating 
material  so  placed  as  to  provide  ample  openings  at  the  floor  and 
ceiling  to  permit  free  air  circulation  to  and  from  the  ice  bunker. 

When  emergency  necessitates  increased  loading,  ventilated  ship- 
ments, rather  than  those  moving  under  refrigeration  or  heat,  should 
be  loaded  heavily. 

STRIPPING    AND    BRACING 

The  following  rules  should  be  put  into  effect  at  every  loading 
platform : 

(1)  Inspect  bunker  bulkheads  and  insure  rigidity  before  loading, 
by  bracing  those  likely  to  work  loose. 

(2)  Clean  out  the  cars  beneath  the  floor  racks  before  loading. 

(3)  Use  floor  racks  having  not  less  than  4-inch  supports  running 
lengthwise  of  the  car.     Do  not  load  boxes  on  temporary  strips,  as 
they  are  of  no  importance  in  applying  heat  and  often  tilt  or  allow 
the  boxes  to  slip  off,  resulting  in  a  jumbled  load  and  breakage. 

(4)  Place  boxes  an  even  distance  apart,  keep  them  in  even  stacks 
across  the  car,  and  have  each  box  shoved  firmly  back  to  prevent  slack. 

(5)  Use  two  car  strips  per  box  on  the  second,  fourth,  and  top  layers 
of  boxes  in  each  stack.     Have  each  strip  extend  to  the  walls  of  the 
car.     Use  No.  6  cement-coated  nails  in  the  top  strips,  two  nails  per  box 
in  each  strip.     On  lower  strips  use  at  least  one  nail  per  box  in  each  strip. 

(6)  When  loading  the  doorway  full,  squeeze  the  load  well  with  a 
car  squeeze  before  placing  the  final  stack  of  fruit,  and  take  up  all 
slack  with  dunnage.     Allow  sufficient  space  above  the  load  in  the 
doorway  for  the  entrance  of  inspectors. 

(7)  Brace    tightly    with    good   lumber,    using   construction  with 
strength  equivalent  to  that  shown  in  figure  8. 

Controlled  ventilation  maintains  lower  and  more  even  fruit  tempera- 
tures than  standard  ventilation.  (See  fig.  3.)  It  is  recommended 
that  ventilation  practices  be  established  that  will  effect  the  prompt 
opening  and  closing  of  ventilators  by  competent  employees,  in  order 


22 


Heavy  Loading  of  Northwestern  Apples 


that  full  advantage  may  be  taken  of  favorable  outside  temperatures 
for  maintaining  desirable  and  uniform  fruit  temperatures.  Until 
adequate  service  in  this  respect  is  established  by  the  carriers  it  is 
believed  desirable  that  the  shippers  extend  the  messenger  service 
that  they  have  provided  for  protection  against  freezing  for  the  purpose 
of  regulating  ventilation  of  cars  in  transit. 


CAR  BRACING 


TO  CEILING 


l»6     UPRIGHTS 


CROSS    SUPPORT 
BRACINGS 


FIG.  8. — Diagram  showing  required  strength  and  proper  construction  of  car  bracing  for  carloads  of 
boxed  apples.  The  load  should  be  kept  tight  when  placing  boxes  and  should  be  well  squeezed  with 
bracings  made  of  sound  lumber. 


j  ,.  ,    nr  A         001      104052         4 

Heavy  Loading  of  Nort..*^,^ 


THE  USE  OF  BOX  CARS  IN  EMERGENCIES 

Box  cars  are  not  suitable  for  long-distance  fruit  shipments,  and 
their  use  for  transporting  perishable  food  products  should  be  restricted, 
in  so  far  as  practicable,  to  short-haul  shipments. 

Tables  1  to  6  and  the  diagram  in  figure  7  show  that  during  1917 
the  supply  of  cars  at  hand  in  the  Northwest  was  not  used  to  the 
best  advantage.  Heavy  loading  was  not  practiced  extensively  until 
the  car  shortage  was  actually  felt.  Instead  of  loading  cars  heaviest 
when  shipments  were  moving  under  ventilation,  this  was  not  done 
until  several  weeks  after  the  normal  season  for  ventilated  shipments. 
Box  cars  were  not  utilized  until  the  supply  of  refrigerator  cars  was 
practically  exhausted,  with  their  greatest  use  coming  after  favorable 
weather  conditions  were  past.  They  were  then  used  indiscriminately 
for  all  shipments,  whether  consigned  to  markets  in  adjoining  States, 
or  to  those  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

It  is  recommended  that  shippers  and  carriers,  through  their  repre- 
sentatives, meet  periodically  to  compare  the  tonnage  to  be  moved  with 
the  apparent  car  supply.  When  conditions  apprehend  the  necessity 
for  heavy  loading  or  for  the  use  of  unsuitable  equipment,  such  as  box 
cars,  as  was  the  case  in  1917,  it  would  then  be  possible  to  effect  heavy 
loading  when  shipping  under  ventilation  rather  than  wait  for  the 
shortage  to  be  actually  visible,  and  box  cars  would  be  utilized  over 
the  entire  season,  but  only  for  such  fruit  as  ordinarily  reaches  a 
nearby  market.  The  best  regulation  of  loading  and  shipping  cannot 
be  made  effective  if  the  carriers  and  shippers  work  independently. 


